Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
| | The Voter
The official newsletter of the
League of Women Voters of Piedmont, CA.
Vol. 37, Issue 10 | May 6, 2026
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May 2026 with the
LWV of Piedmont!
In this issue:
- A Message From Our President
- Voter Information and Volunteers Needed
- Mark Your Calendars!
- Unite and Rise 8.5
- Water Spotlight
- Immigration Around the Nation and State
- Reminder
- Weekly Virtual "Lunch with the League"
But first, let's welcome these new members:
Stacey Isaacs
Barbara Morrison
Susan Miller
Patricia Miles
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A Message From Our President
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Dear LWV of Piedmont Members and Friends,
Our League is looking forward to a very busy election period and invite you to join in on our work ahead. Please go to our Volunteer section below and consider signing up for a short or long term role.
Don't forget about about the League's initiative to build an anti-authoritarian government Unite and Rise 8.5: 8.5 million is STILL the number. It represents a call to action to every member and friend, to "unite and rise up against the anti-democratic actions" of the current administration and is part of our "Women Defend Democracy" campaign. 8.5 million is the number of voters scholars at the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights have determined would "bring about change through nonviolent protest"--3.5% of American voters.
Join us in committing to show up for democracy with the League of Women Voters HERE .
Read on for information about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and voter services we'll be providing to our community.
MEMBERS: Be sure to find a Save the Date message below for our upcoming Annual Meeting.
You're invited to attend the League of Women Voters 57th Biennial National Convention, June 25-28th, 2026, as an observer. Look forward to hearing a report back from delegates Lisa Gardner and Tanya Vawter (LWVP BOD) when they return from Columbus, Ohio. For more to join virtually, go HERE!
In League, and on behalf of the Board,
Lisa Gardner
President, League of Women Voters of Piedmont
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Voter Information and Volunteers Needed
|  | | Empowering Voters--in an Election Year!
Voter services is a critical part of what the League does. With 2026 being an election year, we are scaling up our voter services work.
Information for Piedmont Voters
The June 2, 2026 Primary Election will include Piedmont Unified School District Board of Education (“Board of Education”) Measure H, is explained HERE at the Vote411.org site.
Candidate Forums
A link to the recording of the the District Attorney forum the League did in conjunction with the Alameda County Bar Association on April 10, 2026 can be found HERE.
State Assembly District 14. The Piedmont League was unable to arrange a candidate forum for this contest. Mark Rendon (Green) was willing to participate. However, Borgar Solnordal (R) did not respond to our invitation, and the office of incumbent Buffy Wicks (D) said that her heavily impacted schedule this Legislative session meant she would be unavailable to participate in a candidate forum this year. The League does not hold forums for single candidates.
We will notify our members when additional forums are scheduled.
| VOLUNTEER FOR VOTER SERVICES
We need volunteers to assist with voter services in connection with the November 2026 election!
One of the League of Women Voters' most important services is to empower voters by providing them with ballot and candidate information. Did you know that candidates must pay to include statements in the official voter guides? Not all candidates have statements in the voter guides, but they can appear in the League's Vote411 website for free! Join a passionate group of people acting as local coordinators for the Vote411 website.
While all of the voter services jobs are important, our immediate need is for one or two volunteers to be local coordinators of the Vote411 site for the November election. Information about the Vote411 work, which does not involve a lot of hours and can be done at your pace with support from the California League, can be found HERE. The League will provide Vote411 volunteers with training during the summer, so that we can be ready to populate the website well before the November election ballots are mailed.
Voter services volunteers are needed from now through the November election. Please contact Kathleen Quenneville as soon as possible, but no later than June 15th, at kquen@pacbell.net to explore this opportunity to be one of the Vote411 local coordinators. Kathleen is also the person to contact if you are interested in analyzing local ballot measures or assisting with candidate forums in the November election.
| | OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We are an all volunteer organization with "jobs" that range from once in a while tasks, like tabling for events or programming coordination, to full year positions.
We currently have these volunteer roles, which can be done with a friend, ready to be filled:
- VP of Membership
- NEW! Program Committee Member: Join a group of fun, passionate volunteers to make a difference in our community through curated events.
For more information, please contact Lisa Gardner today by email at Lgardner555@gmail.com or by phone 510-867-9221.
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LWV California Events
Stay connected with other Leagues in California and their events HERE.
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Join the League of Women Voters of California and the Mechanics’ Institute for a vital conversation on the state of our democracy. Part of the On Democracy series, this hybrid panel features election experts and legal scholars discussing the evolving landscape of voter access and election protection.
When: Wednesday, May 13 | 6:00 PM
Where: Mechanics’ Institute (San Francisco) or via Zoom
Panelists:
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Natalie Adona: Marin County Registrar of Voters
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Jesse Mainardi: Election law expert and UC Law SF Professor
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Dora Rose: Deputy Director, League of Women Voters of California
Key Topics:
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Constitutional protections and the impact of redistricting.
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Navigating modern threats to voter access and ballot security.
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The influence of AI, social media, and cybersecurity on election outcomes.
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Practical steps for citizens to take in protecting democracy.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain expert insight into the mechanics of our elections and how we can work together to ensure they remain free and fair. League members can attend in person or virtually for a discounted price of $5. If you are not able to attend live, we will send out a link to the recording to League members after the event.
Register via Eventbrite HERE.
|  | | A MESSAGE
for
Members of Record
Summer is coming (6/22)
Are you heading to Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice? If not, join with the LWVP for our annual members’ meeting on the early evening of June 22 starting at 7:15pm.
We will welcome new members, socialize for a bit, and vote on a few matters.
Details will be provided. For now, please save the date! Monday, June 22, 2026 - 7:15pm. |  | |
In the September 1st, 2025 issue of The Voter, we explained the LWV-US Unite and Rise 8.5 movement. The goal is to motivate 8.5 million Americans to take nonviolent action in support of our democracy.
The actions that we can take this year include A People Powered Summer!
May is a critical entry point for voter engagement. As primary elections begin Leagues are focusing on equipping voters with the information and confidence they need to participate. This is also a key moment to reach new audiences and introduce them to the League’s work. Remember, democracy thrives when we act together.
GOTV!
One of our most important jobs we do as League members is assisting our communities with getting ready to vote. Watch for upcoming opportunities to volunteer with us for this election year. We need all hands on deck and look forward to connecting with other Leagues and organizations to bring you informative programming and voter information as we go into the 2026 Mid-Term Elections.
Check out this short informative video about Unite and Rise 8.5 courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Austin Area and find ways to support Unite and Rise 8.5 in our community.
For more information, go to www.lwv.org/uniteandrise and commit to being a part of this vital initiative for democracy.
YOUTHS: We are registered to provide volunteer service hours. Students who would like to collaborate with the League of Women Voters for events, volunteerism, or to interview a Board Member, please send an email request to President, Lisa Gardner, AND include one parent or guardian in the email, at LWVPiedmont@gmail.com. | | |  | | WATER SPOTLIGHT – MAY 2026
Welcome to Water Spotlight, a new monthly series from the League of Women Voters of California Water Interest Group, featuring expert-written articles for local league newsletters. The purpose is to educate members on California's complex water issues-covering history, law, environment, infrastructure, and policy-while exploring solutions and future LWV action.
Water Spotlight - Protecting the Public trust: Mono Lake and Beyond. In 1983, the California Supreme Court decided, based on the public trust doctrine, that water levels at Mono Lake must be prevented from falling to a point that would cause the loss of this natural treasure. This doctrine continues to be used as a potent legal tool to protect the environment. Read the full article HERE.
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Immigration Around the Nation and State
| ONGOING!
From the League of Women Voters of San Diego
Democracy in America: Understanding and Responding to Challenges
Reviews the core structure of our constitutional government, the challenges of many executive orders and actions, and the issues under litigation. The role of Congress in the system of checks and balances is a focus. Link to video here
LWVSD made this video in May. Most of it is currently relevant, but they have updated the parts on litigation over time.
America’s Immigration Challenges
Learn about the structure of our immigration system, changes since January 2025, significant litigation, and bipartisan policy alternatives.
Link to video here
For additional upcoming information from the League of Women Voters of San Diego's Immigration and Deportation Committee, check the LWV California Events page here.
|  | LWVUS has stated that immigration policies should promote the reunification of immediate families, meet economic, business, and employment needs, and be responsive to those facing political persecution or humanitarian crises. https://www.lwv.org/other-issues/immigration.
LWVC has stated its position at https://lwvc.org/position/position-immigration. The LWVC has noted that ICE’s operations in Los Angeles and around California mark a troubling escalation – workplace raids coupled with the arrest of community members exercising their First Amendment rights to observe and protest. These tactics, along with the federal activation of the California National Guard and the deployment of U.S. Marines, weaponize fear to terrorize not just undocumented residents, but anyone who would stand with their neighbors or participate in democratic discourse. See https://lwvc.org/ice-activity-escalating-resources-protect-communities.
LWVUS and LWVC issued a joint statement on June 8, 2025, stating in part:
The President villainizing protestors is nothing but a performance to direct violence against the American people. By deploying the National Guard, against the wishes of state officials, the administration intends to cause fear and distract from their inhumane immigration raids [and] silence voices of dissent. The President's overreach signals a larger crackdown on protests across the country meant to intimidate us from speaking out…The League of Women Voters condemns these actions. … We will not be intimidated into silence. See www.lwv.org/press-releases.
The League urges everyone who is concerned about ongoing ICE activity to learn about the resources listed below.
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Join or Renew Your LWVP Membership!
Continue your commitment to empowering voters and defending democracy by joining or renewing your membership with the League. The new system, through LWVUS, allows you to pay what you want (with a minimum of $20), and to set up auto-renewal. Membership lasts for one year after joining or renewal (on a rolling basis). To renew, please click HERE.
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Weekly Virtual “Lunch with the League”
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Join us for a weekly virtual lunch date with LWV of Piedmont, President Lisa Gardner. Come learn about our plans, discover opportunities to get involved, share your ideas for events, activities, or projects, or chat local, state, national or global politics!
Registration is required.
Drop in for a bit or stay for the whole hour. Tuesdays, 12-1pm. Zoom registration HERE
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We're social. Connect with us!
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Not yet a member of LWVP?
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